Students ‘acting up’ as teachers

Mike Lees and Thomas Henthorne on the front front row and (left to right from the back row) - Joshua Cooper, Natasha Duff, Patrycja Tomowaik, Ryan Garside, Josiah Thorp, Govar Galal, Alberto Tavares, Ryan Riley, Lauren-Jade Bridge, Rizwana Ali, Gabrielle Turner, Jordan Woral, Holly Jones, Lauren Stott, Nicole Smyth, Chloe Mcleod

Two former students have returned to their alma mater, Hopwood Hall College, to help teach.

Mike Lees is a former HND Performing Arts student who went on to graduate from the University of Bolton with a BA Honours in Performing Arts. Mr Lees has now returned to the department where he studied to deliver student workshops.

He is currently helping the students devise work for their next public performance a creepy show called ‘A Hopwood Haunting: The Missing' and is also helping them to get ready for their involvement with 'The Farm Of Terror' a Halloween-themed horror attraction in Bacup.

He said: “It's surreal that one minute you're being taught and the next minute you're the teacher. It shows how quick the transformation can be through quality education and determination."

Another alumnus Thomas Henthorne has recently graduated from Hopwood Hall College’s performing arts department and has secured his place at the University of Bolton to do his BA Honours top-up degree.

Mr Henthorne has come back to do his work placement (an essential part of his degree) and will be an integral part of helping the students work towards the five shows that they will take part in this year.

He said: "It's great to be back in the place that made me passionate about the performing arts. I'm excited about my placement this year and now aspire to become a teacher thanks to the staff at the College who taught me everything I know."